India’s first general election took place between October 25, 1951, and February 21, 1952. This event was a significant in the country’s history as it was the first national election after independence in 1947. It marked the beginning of democracy in India, paving way for the nation to be the largest democratic country in the world. 

How has the first general election frame worked post-independence? 

The first general elections took place under the newly implemented Constitution of India, which came into effect on November 26, 1949. Before these elections, the country was governed by the Constituent Assembly, which also served as the interim parliament. The interim cabinet was headed by PT. Jawaharlal Nehru. 

The Election Commission of India was formed in 1949, with Sukumar Sen becoming the first Chief Election Commissioner in March 1950. Shortly thereafter, the Representation of the People Act was enacted, establishing the legal framework for conducting elections. 

The election was held to fill 489 seats in the Lok Sabha, which is the lower house of the parliament, across 401 constituencies in 25 states. Among these, 314 constituencies elected one representative each through the first past-the-post method.  

Furthermore, 86 constituencies elected two members—one from the general category and another from the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes. There was also one constituency that elected three representatives.  

These multi-member constituencies, intended to provide representation for socially disadvantaged groups, were abolished in the 1960s. Additionally, the constitution permitted the President of India to nominate two Anglo-Indian members to the Lok Sabha. 

What was the election process in the first general election? 

There were 1,949 candidates who contested the 489 seats. Each candidate had a unique color for their ballot box at the polling booths, displaying the candidate’s name and symbol. Around 16,500 clerks were employed to compile the electoral rolls, using about 380,000 reams of paper to print them.

Out of a population of 361 million, 173 million voters were registered, making it the largest election ever. Notably, all citizens aged 21 and older could vote. 

The election was large and complicated, so it was conducted in 68 phases. There were 196,084 polling stations, with 27,527 reserved exclusively for women. Most of the voting occurred in early 1952. In some places, like Himachal Pradesh, voting started in 1951 because of weather issues.  

Jammu and Kashmir did not participate in this election, with voting for its Lok Sabha seats postponed until 1967. 

Political Parties and Results 

A total of 53 political parties and 533 independent candidates participated in the first general elections post-independence. The Indian National Congress (INC), led by Jawaharlal Nehru, was the leading party.  

Other important parties included the Socialist Party, the Communist Party of India, the Jana Sangh, founded by Syama Prasad Mukherjee, and the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Parishad, led by Acharya Kripalani. Meanwhile, Dr B. R. Ambedkar also brought back the Scheduled Castes Federation.  

The INC achieved a huge victory, securing 45% of the vote and winning 364 out of 489 seats. The Socialist Party received 11% of the votes but only won twelve seats. Later, Jawaharlal Nehru became the first Prime Minister of an independent India. 

Notable losses in post-independence general elections 

Some prominent leaders faced surprising losses; Dr B. R. Ambedkar lost his constituency to Congress candidate Narayan Sadoba Kajrolkar in the Bombay (North Central) area. 

Although Ambedkar later became a member of the Rajya Sabha, he lost another chance to win a Lok Sabha seat in 1954. 

Acharya Kripalani also faced defeat in Faizabad, Uttar Pradesh, but his wife, Sucheta Kripalani, succeeded in Delhi by beating Congress candidate Man Mohini Sahgal.  

The first Lok Sabha, under Speaker Ganesh Vasudev Mavlankar, witnessed 677 sessions, the highest recorded, and completed its term from April 17, 1952, to April 4, 1957. This election not only strengthened India’s democratic system but also set the stage for its political future.